Accelerate Magazine Sep - Oct 2026

Focus on Fiji: Inside the September–October 2026 Issue of Accelerate Magazine

Four days before the 2025 school year was due to begin, a fire tore through the complex that housed Christian Outreach College in Nasinu, Fiji. Two weeks later, students were learning again in a Methodist church hall. Other A.C.E. schools lent books and Score Keys, former students raised funds for equipment, and families and staff helped set up a place where children could get back to their schoolwork.

That story leads the September–October 2026 issue of Accelerate Magazine. This edition puts Fiji in focus and takes us across the wider Christian education network, from classrooms in Indonesia to student conventions in the Papua New Guinea Highlands.

Four schools, four stories from Fiji

Christian Outreach College calls its story “But God.” The school spent nearly 15 months in the church hall before moving into new premises in Nasinu in May 2026. For its students, the recovery was a chance to see what their school community meant when it talked about God’s provision. They saw it in the people who offered a space, lent resources and helped them start again.

At Dayspring Christian College, students put away their devices for the annual camp on Leleuvia Island. Coral planting, sport and team projects gave them opportunities to care for God’s creation, take responsibility and practise the character they were learning at school.

Nadi Christian Community School, founded in 2002, shares how small classes and individualised learning help teachers recognise each student’s strengths and see where they need support. Athletics, music, public speaking and other activities give students room to develop their talents and grow in confidence.

At Suva Christian Community School, A.C.E. trainer Litiana Waqabilibili takes readers behind the scenes. Staff development, regular reviews of student progress and lessons built around character themes all help teachers respond to what students need. Eisha Kau’s illustrated guide rounds out the Fiji spotlight with a look at the country and its 11 schools using the A.C.E. curriculum.

A farewell and a new season for the magazine

The issue honours Kathy Fisher, who retired in July after more than 19 years of service with Accelerated Christian Education and Southern Cross Educational Enterprises. Kathy served as a teacher, supervisor and principal before becoming a Liaison and Training Officer. Through staff training, conferences and school certification support, she shared what she had learned in the classroom with educators across the region.

Lou and Shireen Graham step into the role of co-editors with a commitment to keep sharing stories from schools, families and ministries. Senior Pastor Slabbert Pretorius opens the issue by asking leaders to consider how a Biblical worldview shapes everyday decisions, from what schools teach to how they train staff and steward resources. Pastoral letters from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the Pacific Islands return to the same theme through the daily work of teaching, encouraging students and serving faithfully when the term gets demanding.

Education pathways and practical support

Unity College Australia explains how it supports students pursuing vocational education for work, leadership, ministry and service. The feature looks at what it means to study with an Australian registered training organisation and how the college seeks to provide personal support to learners across the South Pacific.

For Papua New Guinea schools and families, the Certificates Department outlines the steps A.C.E. graduates follow through the National Online Application System. The guide explains who handles each stage, from school registration and moderation to student course choices and the submission of final transcripts. It also explains when a course may require the Special Tertiary Admissions Test.

In Indonesia, Roi Sundoro reports on how affected school communities temporarily shifted to home learning after volcanic ash from Anak Krakatau disrupted routines. The article describes how schools adapted and invites readers to pray for the communities affected.

From the warehouse to the website

SCEE’s warehouse update introduces the regional webstores launched in June and outlines work on a dedicated New Zealand store and planned distribution hubs in Pangia and Jakarta. It also covers freight pressures, curriculum changes and year-end ordering. Among the resource updates are the fourth edition of Physical Science and revised New Zealand Social Studies materials.

In A New Digital Experience for SCEE, Nathan Waqa shares plans for a redesigned website with better search, a clearer resource centre and easier access to A.C.E. information, training, events and regional support. Karl Duxfield also previews improvements to Convention Portal training and invites graduates and schools to share their A.C.E. stories.

The issue’s editorial introduces the Bush Schools Project and its work bringing literacy and the Gospel to isolated island villages. The back page brings together contacts for pastoral care, school and homeschool support, educational resources, training, events and outreach.

Student Convention across the region

Under the theme “Righteous Ones,” the 2026 Student Convention season began in Fiji with sports, creative exhibits, platform presentations and rallies. In Pangia, limited power and water called for some ingenuity. When the athletics team needed a starting signal, two wooden planks did the job.

New Zealand welcomed homeschool families and a visiting team from Singapore. At the time of publication, the events team also shared plans for Australia’s family camp at Mount Tamborine, with a visiting team from Nauru, and reported that 427 students had registered for the Indonesia convention. The Solomon Islands convention was unable to proceed this year. Across the recap, Lou and Shireen thank the supervisors, parents, judges and volunteers who make these events possible and invite more homeschool families to take part.

From a church opening its hall after a fire to a teacher making time to check on a student’s progress, this issue shows how much Christian education depends on people giving their time and putting their faith into practice.

Read the full September–October 2026 issue of Accelerate Magazine for the school testimonies, convention photos and practical updates from across our network.

Something Better Is Coming! Exciting Upgrades to the AEM Convention Portal

Something Better Is Coming! Exciting Upgrades to the AEM Convention Portal

We’re excited to announce that the Accelerate Educational Ministries (AEM) Convention Portal is undergoing a major upgrade!

The Convention Portal plays an important role in connecting our convention community, supporting schools, students, coordinators, judges and administrators throughout the Student Convention journey.

As our conventions continue to grow and develop, we recognise the importance of providing a modern, reliable and user-friendly platform that makes participation and administration easier for everyone.

That’s why we’re working behind the scenes to bring you a refreshed Convention Portal with improved functionality, a modern design and an enhanced user experience.

What’s Changing?

Our goal is simple: to make the Convention Portal easier to use, more efficient and better equipped to support our growing convention community.

Here’s a glimpse of some of the improvements we’re working on.

A Modern, Refreshed Experience

We’re giving the Convention Portal a fresh new look, with a cleaner interface, improved layouts and a more intuitive experience.

Whether you’re accessing the portal from your computer, tablet or mobile device, we’re working to make navigating and managing convention activities easier.

Simpler Navigation and Improved Dashboards

Finding what you need shouldn’t be complicated!

We’re improving the organisation and navigation of the portal, making it easier for schools and convention participants to access important information, manage registrations and find useful resources.

School coordinators can look forward to an improved workspace for managing student records, supervisors, convention registrations and other essential activities.

New Student Performance Reports

One of the exciting new features we’re developing is Student Performance Reports!

This feature is being designed to help schools follow their students’ progress throughout their Student Convention journey.

Through visual reports and interactive graphs, schools will be able to explore:

  • The number of conventions a student has entered.
  • The number of events they have participated in.
  • Their first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth-place achievements.
  • Their performance and progress across multiple conventions.

From a student’s first convention through to their most recent participation, these reports will help schools recognise achievements, celebrate growth and encourage students to continue developing their gifts and abilities.

This feature is currently in development and will be introduced once testing is complete.

Enhanced Registrations and Event Management

We’re working to streamline important processes, from student registrations and event entries to competition scheduling and convention administration.

These improvements aim to make managing convention activities more efficient, helping schools and convention organisers spend less time navigating administrative processes and more time supporting their students.

Improved Performance and Reliability

The upgraded portal is being developed with speed, responsiveness and reliability in mind.

Our aim is to provide a smoother experience, especially during busy registration periods and throughout Student Convention events.

Enhanced Security and Data Protection

Protecting the information entrusted to us is an important responsibility.

As part of this upgrade, we’re strengthening the portal’s underlying technology, reviewing security measures and improving how information is accessed and managed.

We’re also taking care to preserve existing convention records and historical information as we prepare the upgraded platform.

Built for Our Convention Community

Every improvement is being made with our users in mind.

Whether you’re a school coordinator managing registrations, a student preparing for competition, a judge evaluating performances or an administrator organising events, our aim is to make your experience simpler, more effective and more enjoyable.

Why Are We Upgrading?

Student Conventions are about much more than competitions.

They provide opportunities for young people to discover their God-given gifts, develop their abilities, build friendships and grow in confidence, character and leadership.

Every registration, performance, competition and achievement forms part of a student’s journey of growth.

We want the technology supporting these experiences to reflect that same commitment to excellence.

By investing in the Convention Portal, we’re building a stronger foundation to support our schools, students and conventions across the South Pacific and beyond.

What Happens Next?

While these improvements are being implemented, the AEM Convention Portal will be temporarily unavailable.

Our team is working towards bringing the upgraded platform online, with careful testing to ensure that the improvements are ready for our convention community.

We’ll share further announcements as development progresses, including information about when the portal will reopen and how to access the updated features.

We appreciate your patience, support and understanding during this transition.

Thank You for Being Part of the Journey!

We’re grateful for the schools, students, families, coordinators, judges and volunteers who make our Student Conventions such a special experience.

Your commitment to helping young people grow and excel is at the heart of everything we do.

We’re looking forward to introducing a refreshed Convention Portal that better serves our entire convention community.

Something better is coming, and we can’t wait to share it with you!

Stay connected for further announcements and updates.

Accelerate Educational Ministries
Supporting excellence, character and growth through Student Conventions.

Convention Portal: https://convention.accelerateministries.com.au/acp/

Stirring Up the Flame: April 2026 Communiqué

April 2026 Communique: Updates & School Resources

April 2026 Communique: Faith, Diligence, and Global Updates

A Spirit of Power, Love, and a Sound Mind

In his second letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote from a place of deep affection and spiritual urgency. He recognized that Timothy—much like many of us today—was facing a season of fear.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7

When we feel the “sour taste of quiet fear” or question our ability to continue, we must remember that God provides more than a pep talk; He provides His actual power. By “stirring up” our spiritual gifts through joyful communion with Him, we find the strength to lead with integrity, the love to serve our students effectively, and the sound mind to remain calm when challenges arise.


Important Global Shipping & Logistics Updates

Global Freight & Fuel Surcharges

Due to volatility in global fuel markets, major carriers (including FedEx and Australia Post) have adjusted their fuel surcharge structures.

  • What to expect: Surcharges are now reviewed as frequently as weekly.

  • Impact: Freight costs may fluctuate between shipments.

  • Advice: Plan orders ahead of time to mitigate the impact of these industry-wide fluctuations.

New Zealand Import Charges

Effective 1 April 2026, the New Zealand Customs Service has introduced a Goods Management Levy.

  • Low-Value Shipments: Imports valued at NZD $1,000 or less will incur a processing charge of approximately NZD $2–$3 per shipment (plus GST).

  • Consignment Rules: Charges apply per shipment, not per order. Note that via Australia Post, each box is often treated as a separate shipment.


2026 Dates & Deadlines

Educators’ Conferences

  • Papua New Guinea: Port Moresby (27-28 April), Mt. Hagen (30 April-1 May), Lae (4-5 May), Kokopo (7-8 May)

  • Solomon Islands: 15-16 June

Student Conventions (Theme: Righteous Ones)

  • International: 30 May – 4 June

  • Fiji: 5-10 July

  • Australia: 23-25 September

Moderation Deadlines

Please ensure student work is sent by the following dates to remain eligible for certificates:

  • Moderation 2: 19 June 2026

  • Moderation 3: 18 September 2026

  • Moderation 4: 11 December 2026

Note: The Warehouse will be closed for EOFY stocktake from 29 June – 3 July 2026. Please place orders early.


Academic Integrity: A.C.E. and Learning Gaps

We have noted an increase in schools bypassing Diagnostic Testing or using “skip PACEs” to rush students through the curriculum. While A.C.E. is an accelerated program, it is built on mastery learning.

  • Sequential Learning: PACEs are designed to be completed in order. Skipping PACEs creates foundational gaps that cause students to fail later tests.

  • Character Building: Allowing a student to skip work because they have fallen behind due to laziness rewards poor behavior.

  • Diagnostic Testing: All new students must be tested and placed at their performance level, not their chronological age.

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:17)

Screenshot of the Accelerate Convention Portal login and registration page.

Convention Registration Now Open | Accelerate Convention Portal

THE PORTAL IS OPEN: Convention Registration is Officially LIVE!

Let me repeat that for the people in the back, the side-rooms, and everyone still scrolling: The portal is open!

The moment we have all been waiting for has finally arrived. After months of behind-the-scenes planning, late-night brainstorming sessions, and a mountain of anticipation, the digital gates at the Accelerate Convention Portal are wide open. If you’ve been looking for the sign to take your ministry, your leadership, or your personal growth to the next level—this is it.

Why the Hype? Because This Year is Different.

Convention isn’t just another date on the calendar; it’s a high-octane collision of inspiration, community, and purpose. We aren’t just meeting; we are growing together. From the second you arrive, you’re stepping into an atmosphere that is absolutely electric.

We’re talking about world-class sessions, speakers who challenge the status quo, and—most importantly—the chance to reconnect with your tribe. Whether you’re coming from right here in Queensland or traveling from across the Pacific, this is where the momentum builds.

Pro-Tip: Check the Guidelines Before You Click!

We are so ready for you to jump through the portal, but we have one quick favor to ask! To ensure everyone has an incredible experience and things run as smooth as silk, please take a moment to review our official guidelines. This document is your roadmap for the event—it covers the vital essentials on structure, expectations, and how we can all team up to make this year the best one yet. Give it a quick look before you hit that final submit button!

Read the Convention Guidelines Here

Ready to Make it Official?

Once you’ve brushed up on the guidelines, you are cleared for takeoff! Head straight to the Accelerate Convention Portal to secure your spot. It takes less than three minutes to change your entire trajectory for the year.

Register for Convention Here

Stop waiting. Start clicking. Let’s make this the biggest, loudest, and most impactful Convention yet. We can’t wait to see your name on the list.

Let’s get registering!